Romans 3:1-4 (The Message and TNIV)
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Yesterday, I heard some very disturbing news. Not surprising, but disturbing nonetheless. I was told that another minister blew up his ministry because he had an affair. As I thought about it, I went through various emotions - anger being the prominent one. However, this led to a solemn reflection later in the day. This was someone I trusted. I had only met him a couple of times, but he held a special place in our family. He is a worship leader and one whose music rings in our cars, in our kitchen and in our ears. What do we do now? Do we stop listening to the music? Do we boycott the stores that play his music?
What a day to pick up Romans 3 and read the first 4 verses. Paul says, "So, what if in the course of [caring for God's revelation], some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out His faithfulness? Not on your life!"
No matter how faithful we are, God's working in us is all about Him, not our faithfulness. Therefore, no matter how faithless we end up, God's working is still all about Him. No matter if this was a worship leader, a pastor or a close friend, their screw-up is not a negation of the faithfulness of God.
How would you respond? How do you think we should respond when a "church leader" messes up?
Not having been at a church where a pastor or other leader "messed up", I can't be certain, but I'm pretty positive I would judge heavily and doubt whether or not they were a "real" Christian and definitely doubt whether or not they should have ever been or should continue to be a leader.
ReplyDeleteBut if I sat back and really thought about it (which I think would be hard to do), a leader who messes up just might be the best type of leader. One who is human. One who makes the same mistakes as the rest of us. One we can connect to. One who might help us REALLY recognize the forgiveness that God has given to us, the regular humans who sometimes mess up, too.
Excellent.
ReplyDeleteBrings back the thought(that is somewhat hard to comprehend)that Mother Theresa and the church leaders that mess up and the "good Christians" that mess up and us, are all in the same boat. Did God really LOVE Hitler, Richard Ramirez, Ms. O'Hair, etc...? It seems absurd and yet it has to be true that my name is right there along with those as far as being a sinner goes. Wow, what a love He has for us!
ReplyDeleteStan
I could wax poetic (or more likely very unpoetic) about the danger of making minister-types into idols or endowing them with celebrity status. But that's the easy route. For me, a minister, it's harder to reckon with my own sin, desire for status, and general love-of-me. That's where I have to deal with sin and be pushed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to InTake Trent!
ReplyDeleteEmma, I have served under two pastors who "messed up," and neither of them responded in a healthy way after they were caught. The first time, I felt all the things you mentioned. The second time, to my own surprise, I did not. God had taught me not to put people on too high of a pedestal. I was able to be more gracious, and less personally devastated, the second time.
I'm not making any excuses for a leader who fails morally. We should be held to a higher standard, should be accountable, and should have extra defenses built into our lives. But the truth is, the only kind of leader you have or ever will have is one who has "messed up" in one way or another. As you say, a "human leader." I agree they are the best kind--try to find any other kind in the pages of Scripture. I think the challenge for leaders is to be okay with being human, and not try to portray oneself as anything else. We're not here to hold ourselves up, but Christ (the only One who didn't mess up).
We've had a mid-level leader fail us before, and it was very personal. Initially, I felt as though any advice or counsel this man had given us in the past was garbage and we should forget we ever talked to him. But soon, I just felt sorry for him. He left the church and I heard he even left town. That made me sad. Instead of having a group of people to lean on through his struggle, he felt he had to run away! What a failure on our part, wouldn't you say? I hope that if this were to happen again, I would show much more grace.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to show grace, honestly. It's easy to judge. Period. And, I have been one to throw the first stone. And, the second. And the third. With a slingshot.
ReplyDeleteLike Cameron said, the first time our pastor morally failed us and his family, we were devastated. WE were the ones to move. I broke out in hives, literally, due to the stress and emotional anguish we went through following that season.
The second time it happened, I was/we were able to look at it in a different light. It was still painful and wrong, but we also knew we had been in that valley before and, in hindsight, God carried us more than we (I) realized.
He also grew me and matured me by allowing me to see where *I* had failed to respond maturely and with grace the first time. I regret, still to this day, my actions and did not repeat them the next time we saw a MAN stumble. (I put man in caps not because of gender, but as a reminder that the leaders of our churches are just that...human.)
Another difference between the first time and second time was my opportunity to minister to one of the families deeply involved. It made it far more real life, if that makes sense. In other words, because I was able to walk through and witness some of the repentance process and see God's love and forgiveness, I was far less inclined to judge. I desired for the guilty parties to be forgiven, not just see justice. (The first time around, I wanted the pastor to BURN!! Not real Christian, huh?)
In both instances, God's faithfulness was still apparent. Maybe not to me, immediately, but upon review, I realized it.